Canada’s Acid and hypnotic Techno staple Aquaregia brings on Berlin powerhouse Blazej Malinowski for a deep dive into haunting, melancholy Techno textures for his “MOODS” EP release featuring a perfect accompaniment of a remix from Aquaregia mainstay, 747.
No stranger to stripped down, deeper takes and inflections, Canada’s Aquaregia label has become a cornerstone of the evolving Acid movement with many of the releases featuring more ethereal and ephemeral sonics. Founded by Emily Nicoll, who herself has become a figurehead of the style the label encapsulates, the label has quickly garnered international support and a collection of artists from every corner of the world, regularly featuring the releasing talent in its hour-long podcast series, titled “Aquaregia Studio Mixes”.
With the 22nd release on the label, Aquaregia brings on Berlin-based producer Blazej Malinowski for his first release on the imprint. Renowned for their groovier and moodier evocations of the style, Blazej has been a consistent artist in the corner of the artistry they’ve created.
Starting off “MOODS” EP, “Wave” strikes a resounding chord of melancholic turmoil with surgical precision. Haunting pad structures and acid tones create an environment of dimly lit street corners and alleyways alongside industrial aftertones. Followed quickly and articulately with “Silent Resistance”, it follows suit with ambient and evolving textures that’re a well-rounded upward movement towards the albums’ B side.
Contrary to its predecessors, the B side starts off with “Acid Theory”. A bit faster paced and more driving, “Acid Theory” strings together a more moody, gut-punching take on Blazej’s style while still holding true to the overall tone and vibe. Rounding off the release, 747 brings a broken and evolving swing into their remix of “Acid Theory” which closes the release out on a graceful but energizing note.
In a time of fast and hard being a focal point of the norm, refreshing cuts that emphasize the roots of deeper and more melodic influences breathe much needed fresh air into the music pool. Aquaregia has created a flavor in the North American continent that shines a light on these takes and the respective artists. They’re making a point to stick to the methods that brought the success it has seen over the years. Forward thinking and with appropriate homages to the roots, “MOODS” EP encapsulates a wide tone of the deeper resonances of Techno and Acid with proper representations for versatile listeners.
-Colin Cook
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